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Thursday, September 19, 2013

"Seeing" in NARCOMS: a look at vision-related quality of life in the NARCOMS registry.

"Seeing" in NARCOMS: a look at vision-related quality of life in the NARCOMS registry.

Source

Department of Biostatistics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294-0022, USA. asalter@uab.edu

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Research on vision-related quality of life (QOL) in multiple sclerosis (MS) is still limited. Tools such as the Visual Functioning Questionnaire-25 (VFQ-25) and the Vision Performance Scale (VPS) facilitate assessments of the severity of visual impairment and its impact on daily life.

OBJECTIVE:

The objective of this paper is to examine vision-related QOL, comorbid eye conditions, use of visual aids and utilization of eye-care providers in the North American Research Committee on Multiple Sclerosis (NARCOMS) population, and to explore these issues in those with a history of optic neuritis (ON) and diplopia.

METHODS:

In 2008, NARCOMS registrants reported on their use of visual aids, the VFQ-25, VPS, history of ON, diplopia, refractive error conditions (REC) and comorbid eye diseases (CED). We conducted regression analyses and correlations between select variables.

RESULTS:

The response rate for the survey was 60.4%. Of the 9107 responders, 66.7% reported visual disability measured by VPS. Of respondents, 43.1% had a history of ON and 38.6% reported prior diplopia. Frequencies of myopia (51.8%), hyperopia (26.6%), and uveitis (3.4%) exceeded those expected for the general population. Mean (SD) VFQ-25 composite score was 82.0 (14.2). A history of ON or diplopia accounted for 9.7% of the variance in the VFQ-25; 90.6% of respondents used glasses or contact lenses. Rates of utilizations of eye-care providers were lower than expected.

CONCLUSION:

Prior ON, diplopia, REC and CED adversely impact vision-related QOL in MS. Increased utilization of eye-care providers and use of visual aids could improve vision-related QOL in people with MS.

SYMPTOMS of MS

In multiple sclerosis , damage to the myelin in the central nervous system (CNS), and to the nerve fibers themselves, interferes with the transmission of nerve signals between the brain and spinal cord and other parts of the body. This disruption of nerve signals produces the primary symptoms of MS, which vary depending on where the damage has occurred.

Over the course of the disease, some symptoms will come and go, while others may be more lasting.

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